Thursday, July 30, 2009

That 70's House



This family home built on a high ridge overlooking Lake Michigan near Chicago, has had 2 major transformations over its 31 years. Originally built in 1978, it had an addition in the 1990s and another renovation/addition in 2007. The original design was straight forward, a simple L-shape with bedrooms on the lower level and main living spaces on the upper level, with great views of the lake on three sides. An L-shaped wall which was added in 1993, created a private exterior courtyard overlooking the heavily-treed garden.

The 2007 work included a new master suite with dressing room and larger bathroom and a family room was also added. When first built in 1978 it was given a Distinguished Building Award by the American Institute of Architects Chicago for its outstanding design & aesthetics.

As I have often said here at The Hedge, for those of us trying to breathe new life into a 70's house, despite much research, inspiration & imagery is very thin on the ground. This lovely house reminds me so much of our 1973 'beauty' - sitting high up on the land, surrounded by woodland and huge old trees, with large expanses of glass allowing the light to flood in. While I know many of you won't be particularly drawn to this era of architecture or even this house, I wanted to post it, as to me struggling with the challenges of this architectural style, its pure joy. In a perfect world, when we found our amazing site, it would have come complete with a gorgeous little Edwardian cottage, but it didn't. So we just have had to play the cards we were dealt in a positive & enthusiastic manner. The images of this home stopped me in my tracks, and its wonderful to see that it has reinvented itself to move gracefully into the 00's, stylish & confident in its ability to see out another 30 years quite happily.





Images: Booth Hansen

13 comments:

  1. What a cool house! I love the idea of living in a house with windows all around...just as long as no one is around to see inside! Great pictures!

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  2. i'm sure i'd appreciate this house when i'm enduring cooler temperatures. right now, i've spent the last 2 days closing every blind, drawing every drape and covering every ray of sunlight coming in as we're in the midst of a heat wave and have no central air conditioning. the thought of all this glass is too much to bear right now. but it is beautiful! pam

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  3. It has a real cozy feel in its own right , the way the trees play in the backgroud through the windows. Half my brain loves this type of architcheure and Danish design, Frankl LLoyd Wright, my other half vintage,cottagey , nostalgic. Thanks for posting I enjoyed these pictures. Julie in Holland...

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  4. I could definitely live with the huge windows, beautiful views and clean lines. It's like a blank slate that could go any direction you want it to. I'd have to spend some serious spa time in that bathroom!

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  5. I don't think I'd like living in a house with so many windows. I would like looking out, but just wouldn't be comfortable with the idea of people being able to look inside so freely. It would cost a fortune for curtains!

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  6. Loving this place Millie, its got design classic written all over it. The last picture is definitely channeling Mies van de Rohe - fabulous!

    http://myendlessinspiration.blogspot.com/2008/11/farnsworth-house.html

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  7. I think this home holds much appeal. I love the clean, easy lines and all of that light! I'm pretty sure there would be a cooling system for this home and hopefully a cleaning service to tend to those windows... With your taste and MOTH's talent-your home will be smashing when completed!

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  8. i love it . i want it. i love the FEEL of it.
    it reminds ma of the famous 'farnsworth house.'

    xxx

    millie,
    thank you for your support and kind words.
    it got me through.

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  9. Wow. This is about as nice as houses get around here. I have yet to find anything to equal it in good looks. I and my wife of 54 years, Patty, would love a house high up with a large window that overlooks a valley or a creek or something besides a soy bean field. And we don't even have that. We are not high up either. LOL

    Actually, Millie, I wasn't drunk. The picture looks like I was though. I admit that.

    I was standing behind the screen door, trying to smile and probably talk at the same time and my daughter snapped the picture -- actually two -- and this one was caught with my eyes closing. So it looks like I am awash in spirits. LOL

    Thanks for the visit and comments. It is always nice to see your name on any of my blogs.

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  10. I'm actually loving this...I am always a sucker for lots and lots of glass...and trees.

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  11. It's wonderful. A sense of clean balance that's so comforting and appealing to me. Now, what is that saying about throwing stones?

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  12. I love all of the glass on this house. I am not a modern kind of gal but it is the view of nature while living inside that I am so in love with. I found this 70's pad on Domain.com http://www.domain.com.au/Public/PropertyDetails.aspx?adid=2007897502

    It has loads of potential inside but outside, I am having a hard time visualizing it. The price is also giving me some shock, it must be in a fantastic neighborhood? Heidi

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  13. What a great house! I'm much more traditional, but I could so see this as a vacation house! Such good energy!

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And none will hear the postman's knock
Without a quickening of the heart.
For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?
~W.H. Auden

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